Attributions related to spousal sexual violence among married women in Turkey

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Spousal sexual violence is a form of intimate partner violence (IPV) that can affect women both physically and psychologically and often co-occurs with other forms of IPV. The estimated prevalence of spousal sexual violence might not reflect the reality since women often do not readily perceive sexual violence within an intimate relationship as a form of violence. METHODS: This descriptive study aimed to investigate the factors associated with married women's attributions related to spousal sexual violence. The sample consisted of 510 married women who were recruited during their visits to various outpatient clinics in a hospital in Turkey between July and December 2016. The data was collected as self-reports via sociodemographic forms, Attributions related to Sexual Violence Scale, the sources of help-seeking and Bem Sex-Role Inventory. RESULTS: Among the sample, 12.7 % reported lifetime spousal sexual violence. Age and education level of the father predicted victim-blaming attributions while the education level of women and their fathers predicted rape-supportive attributions. Women who had an arranged marriage had higher rape-supportive attributions. These attributions were not associated with gender role orientation and experience of spousal sexual violence. Consultation with healthcare professionals was the most common suggestion for women who were exposed spousal sexual violence. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Attributions of married women to spousal sexual violence are related to individual and marital factors. Education could be a significant tool with its form and content for shaping women's attributions to spousal sexual violence.

Keywords

• domestic violence
• attributions
• sexual violence
• gender roles